John Deere Engine & Tractor Museum: Waterloo, Iowa

The John Deere Engine & Tractor Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, is one that you will want to put on your road trip list. Museum enthusiasts will love this museum and all it has to offer. Located right off of the main road that runs through Waterloo, it’s easy to find. Parking and entrance into the museum are also free, along with a large parking lot. If you are driving a motorhome or pulling a trailer, parking is ample. With a nice warm welcome, it’s not hard to remember you are in a ” green” facility!

We received our time cards upon entering and an opportunity to ask questions. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, which is not always the case when a museum offers free admission. I was impressed with the friendly welcome and a reminder to view the short video before we toured the museum. Half way through the museum, we were able to stamp our time cards. Have you ever stamped a time card?

I’m an Iowa farm girl and grew up around red tractors, and through the years I have learned to embrace John Deere green.

I knew that John Deere was a leader in tractor safety, but I was surprised to learn that John Deere was the leader in the industry when it came to rollover protective structures. I had never given it much thought until I was strolling through the museum.

It’s evident that agriculture has evolved over the years. From the entrance to the exit, it’s almost as though you are farming and growing with the changes. The equipment was smaller early on and as time progressed, the equipment became larger. The metal wheels are something that I still try to wrap my head around.

Different hands on activities are throughout the museum. I liked how these activities varied and offered something different in each display area. When you lined up the tractor here with the yellow arrow, a video began to play describing how the John Deere equipment worked.

From tractor safety to the assembly process, each area of the museum has something unique to offer. I thought this was a great comparison for everyone to see.

This looks like a fun museum. I like that it’s interactive and love that they give you little time cards upon your entrance. It’s nice that you get to walk through and see the evolution of such an iconic brand. I’d love to ride on a big John Deere tractor someday.

My family owned a farmland when I was still a kid. I used to be with them during planting and harvesting season. But my parents did not involve me in the work in the farm because I was just a small child during those times. I love the farm anyway and its smell. Sad to say, the land was destroyed because of the salt water. We no longer have a farm now.